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TiVo gets official with Desktop Plus 2.6, enables web video viewing
Well, what do you know? TiVo's delivering as promised with this one, as Desktop Plus 2.6 is indeed going live in March -- just like we were told back in January (and nary a week after TiVo promised YouTube access later this year). Truth be told, there's not a whole lot here that you didn't already get a taste of in our hands-on at CES, but here's the skinny. As of today, TiVo users can grab hold of the latest version of Desktop (Windows only, we're afraid) and "enjoy a broad range of web entertainment available directly from their TV." More specifically, these customers "can choose web videos downloaded on the home PC using web browsers, RSS video clients such as iTunes podcasts, or other video download software to automatically copy to their TiVo DVR's Now Playing List alongside recorded broadcast and cable TV shows." In case you couldn't tell, Desktop Plus 2.6 can be downloaded today for a one-time fee of $24.95, but consider that waived if you're upgrading from an earlier version. Click on through for the full release.
TiVo still working on a DVR with two-way features like VOD
Hi-def and DVRs go together like peanut butter and jelly, but even with all the great DVRs available today, none are perfect. TiVo offers the best overall user experience and features, but lacks a few fundamental features that most cable STBs have -- like VOD, for starters. Although this isn't TiVo's fault, when it comes down to figuring out what's right for your family, it really doesn't matter. During Tivo's earnings call yesterday, it was reaffirmed that TiVo is working one step closer to making the ultimate cable DVR by including two-way functionality using the latest CableLabs standard tru2way. For those who haven't been keeping track at home, tru2way has undergone an identity crisis, and if you go back long enough, you'll find that it was called CableCARD 2.0 -- by someone. The way this would work is that you'd have a way on a TiVo to access the cable company's UI, so good or bad, when you're accessing VOD content, you'd see the same thing as if you were using a Moto or SA Cisco box. What isn't known is if current HD TiVo owners, with the help of a tuning resolver and some software, would have access to the same features. We don't see why not, but this stuff is already way more complicated than it should be, and at this point we wouldn't put anything by CableLabs.
Verizon running low on FiOS TV HD boxes?
Yeah, we've seen shortages caused by unexpected upticks in demand before, and unfortunately, it's new FiOS TV customers that'll be feeling the pain this 'go round. Shortly after hooking up its one millionth customer, the carrier is now being forced to tell consumers that they won't be able to get a Motorola HD receiver or HD DVR right away. According to a number of user reports, company reps have been informing folks that the wait could be as long as a month, but a Motorola spokeswoman has reportedly said that it's working closely with the company in order to relieve the shortage. We know FiOS TV has been spreading its wings of late, so we're curious to know: have you been affected by said shortage, or did you get in just under the wire?[Via Multichannel News, thanks Jonathan E.]
Bell Canada intros 6141 HD satellite receiver
Hey, you Canucks up there. If you've been scouting a totally new HD satellite receiver, today's your lucky day. Bell Canada is loosing its "next-generation" 6141 HD receiver on the market, and while not too many specifics are mentioned, we do know that it'll boast an HDMI output, access to interactive television (iTV) / Caller ID, an Ethernet port and a USB 2.0 connector "for future applications and hardware" (external storage, perhaps?). If all that's good enough for you, you can reportedly acquire one now for $299 or rent one for $10 per month.
Cisco reveals 8500HDC DVR set-top-box series
We knew full well that Cisco would be axing the Scientific Atlanta brand, so it shouldn't come as any surprise to you to see a new series of STBs emerge at CES with a shiny Cisco logo gracing the front. The 8500HDC DVR series will include the 8550HDC (analog and digital tuning support), the 8540HDC (digital-only tuning support) and the 8552HDC (optional MoCA support, enabling Ethernet-over-coax). Furthermore, the trio promises to deliver "internet and premium content services," instant messaging support and a "richer media experience" to boot. As it stands, we aren't sure when the general public will be able to get their hands on any of the new boxes, but Cisco does claim that they're now "commercially available for its service provider customers." For more nitty-gritty on the new lot, click on through to the read link.[Thanks, Will P.] %Gallery-13739%
DirecTV's HR20 / HR21 HD DVRs drop to $199.99
The title pretty much says it all here -- DirecTV's HR20 / HR21 are now available at a number of places for just $199.99. For new customers, there's even a $99 rebate that will bring your up-front costs down even further, and we all know there are deals to be had if you fling the word "cable" or "fiber" around while on the phone with a CSR. So, any of you DirecTV users springing for the upgrade?
Oceanic TWC orders up 6000 HD DVRs for Hawaii vs. Georgia bowl game
Sure, the University of Hawaii has a legitimate gripe for not being in the BCS Championship game -- you know, considering its undefeated record and all -- but islanders are apparently just as stoked to have their Warriors in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Oceanic Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) announced that it ordered up (and received) some 6,000 HD DVRs in anticipation of a spike in demand stemming from the upcoming bowl game. Reportedly, over 3,000 subscribers have been on a waiting list since December 1st to get their box in time for the New Year's day matchup, and Oceanic also noted that it would be extending business hours for O'ahu residents to get their hands around a box in time for the tilt. Of course, users not on said waiting list will be helped on a "first come, first served" basis, so we'd get a move on if you're scouting one.
HD DVRs now available for iProvo customers
Mstar and Nuvont subscribers on the iProvo network can now look forward to recording their favorite programs for later viewing in high-definition after dealing with SD DVRs up until now. In case you weren't aware, iProvo is a municipally-owned FTTH service serving the residents of Provo, Utah, and it relies on the two aforementioned service providers to dish out content to customers. Previously, users were able to watch shows in HD but only record in SD, and while specifics weren't doled out, we do know the new set-top-boxes will support HDMI. If this tidbit has your name written all over it, be sure and hit the read link for the appropriate contact number to inquire about pricing and availability.Update: Tsuami alerts us that Mstar has yet to make these available -- hopefully that'll change soon enough.
ReplayTV launches Personal HD tuner kit, plays nice with iPod / iPhone
We've seen a number of USB tuners that make converting files for handheld viewing a lesson in simplicity, but ReplayTV is givin' you one more alternative. The Personal HD kit includes a USB 2.0 ATSC / NTSC hybrid tuner, an antenna, wireless remote (which fits nicely in a spare PCMCIA slot), a free year of ReplayTV Electronic Program Guide (EPG), and bundled software that features native iPod, Apple TV and iPhone support. This "all-in-one" solution for getting OTA content on your device of choice is set to ship this November for $99.95.
DirecTV's CEDIA booth tour
There's just no way to followup a visit to Dish Network's booth than to hit up DirecTV directly afterwards, eh? Sadly, DirecTV's space was packed to the brim with individuals and an excessive amount of TVs, but we squeaked our way through the madness to get some shots of the company's HR21 Pro, which touts a sexy black chassis, a slew of ports in the rear, and interestingly enough, Viiv-certification. Oh, and the only murmurs we heard about the next big rollout of channels involved the phrase "between next week and next year."%Gallery-7069%
Dish Network's CEDIA booth tour
Dish Network's booth was certainly not destitute of propaganda, but it did provide an open look at its current line of DVRs and receivers as well as giving onlookers something else to look forward to. We'd hate to leave you hangin' like that, so follow the trail on over to EngadgetHD for the full skinny, alright?
Moxi's CEDIA booth tour
Well, it seems like the Moxi HD DMR is progressing along just fine, you know, considering that the thing had an entire booth at CEDIA dedicated to it. According to the firm's website, everything is still scheduled for a "fall release," and while we're still not sure how much this stuff will run you, the demo stations looked might impressive, indeed. The hardware units all tout a sleek, stylish and simplistic enclosure, and the crystal clear interface was a sight to behold. Don't believe it? Check it out for yourself below.%Gallery-7062%
DirecTV HR21 Pro gets leaked
We first stumbled upon a prototype of the DirecTV D-HR20P DVR at Electronic House Expo last year, but haven't heard anything about it since then. Now with CEDIA coming up, a promo image of what could be the next evolution in this design has been leaked, the HR21 Pro. The DVR will reportedly handle 100 hours of high-def recording and output it at 1080p over optical HDMI, but lacks any over-the-air antenna inputs, probably due to DirecTV's 100-channel rollout plan. We should see it in November, so clear out some rackmount space... you do have a rack to mount it in, right?
Dish Network unveils black ViP722 HD DVR
Hot on the heels of Dish Network's newest software update comes a brand new HD DVR, which actually doesn't differentiate itself all that much from its predecessor. The ViP722 will delight those looking for a black unit to match their eerily dark component setup, but it reportedly runs on the very same software as that found in the ViP622. Additionally, users will find a 500GB hard drive within, which offers up 55-hours of HD recording space, 350-hours of SD, or any combination of the two. As expected, newcomers to Dish can snag the ViP722 gratis, and while it's not mentioned how much existing subscribers will be forced to cough up in order to upgrade, there's not a whole lot here that can't be matched by just plugging in your own external HDD to that still-capable ViP622.[Via DBSTalk]
Time Warner readying modified fast-forward functionality for DVRs
While Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) won't go down as the first cable company to modify the oh-so-lovable fast-forward feature, at least the latest hamstringing won't affect those willing to pay up. Dubbed "Look Back," the newfangled DVR feature will reportedly come "without a monthly fee," and will only allow customers to skip ahead and back in predetermined chunks of time; moreover, it will be limited to programs that are watched back before midnight of the day they air. The firm plans to test it out this October in South Carolina before "gradually introducing it around the country," and it was also noted that this -- along with the "Start Over" feature that functions exactly as it sounds -- would not require viewers to "remember to record programs," but alas, it also eliminates the ability to keep a library of stored content onboard. Ah well, so long as we diehard DVR users can keep on coughing up the dough required for a fully-functional FF button, we've no real qualms with this option joining the fray.
TiVo HD DVR is the newest Series3, TiVoToGo coming back
We got some very reliable information from an inside source on TiVo's newest DVR -- and guess what, it's called the TiVo HD (good luck trying to trademark that one, TiVo). Granted, we've heard most of this already, but our sources confirmed the TiVo HD will launch with a 160GB drive (or, as TiVo likes to put it, 160 hours SD / 20 hours HD), two CableCARD tuners, and possibly also an ATSC tuner. We can also further confirm it won't have THX certification, frontal display, or the Glo remote, but the $300 price tag is set, so it won't pinch the pocketbook quite so hard. Supposedly it's launching this week, possibly as early as tomorrow. Given that the cheapest box TiVo sells is still $100 (or sometimes free), it stands to reason this will be the new mid-range model, but from what we understand TiVo is on its way to phasing out the Series2 brand entirely.Also in TiVo news, we understand the eSATA port will be enabled for external storage in short order, and Best Buy will have the retail exclusive on the external drive, which will supposedly be a small striped RAID array. Oh, and big time bonus for current users: TiVoToGo is on track to finally be re-enabled on Series3 boxes, but there's a fairly huge caveat: SD shows only, HD shows will have to stay safely stowed on the box. Bummer. Sweet, TiVo more or less confirmed HD will be making it in the next TiVoToGo release!
Zatz gets cozy with Moxi's forthcoming DVRs
Unfortunately, we can't fill you in on hard pricing or availability information on Moxi's impending DVR lineup just yet, but Mr. Dave Zatz was able to get a feel for what they'll be like when that time finally comes. Swinging through Digeo's office, he was able to spend a little time with the firm's Home Cinema HD DMR -- which sports both ATSC and NTSC tuners, an integrated 5.1 audio amplifier, and strangely lacks CableCARD support -- and the Multi-Room HD DMR (read: the impressive one). The latter unit is CableCARD-friendly, comes bundled with a Moxi Mate extender for multi-room viewing, and will support HD streaming via 1394 over coax. Both devices include a built-in CD / DVD drive (no high-definition options?), can interface with networked PCs, and even feature eSATA expansion ports for upping the storage. Of course, nothing official has been leaked, but Zatz got the impression that a "fall release" was in the realm of possibility. Tag the read link for more of the hands-on goodness.
Sharp's AQUOS DV-ACV52 HD DVR handles DVD, HDV, and VHS
Sharp's HD DVR lineup has been steadily (albeit quietly) growing for a few years now, and while the company did loose five new offerings in the AQUOS DVR arena earlier this year, the multi-faceted DV-ACV52 has the stage all to itself now. Besides packing a built-in digital TV tuner, 250GB hard drive, and HDMI outputs, this convergence device allows playback and dubbing on a variety of formats including VHS, DVD, or DV / HDV via the i.Link FireWire connector. Other niceties include composite / S-Video outs, optical audio output, and the ability to record one OTA broadcast to the HDD while another goes straight to VHS / DVD. Sadly, we don't envision this Japanese-bound unit ever gracing US shores, but it will be making smiles across the sea next month for around $925.[Via MediaMentalism]
Comcast showing off TiVo-powered DVR
They took their freaking time getting around to this, but at CES this week Comcast is showing off what they'd been promising to deliver for nearly two years: a cable DVR box with TiVo software on it. It's good news for subscribers who know the pain of Comcast's current DVR offerings, though as of right now we still have yet to learn how much a TiVo-enabled box will cost or when exactly it'll be available.
DirecTV now friendly with Viiv boxes, other PCs to come?
After DirecTV's long-awaited HR20 HD DVR finally got its rightful announcements and actually hit users' hands, it wasn't too long before folks were plugging and praying in hopes of getting their new toy to play nice with that HTPC beside it. While we knew the two firms had gone hand-in-hand awhile back, we finally got the thumbs-up that a new, Viiv-alicious DirecTV Plus HD DVR would be unveiled soon to interact out-of-the-box with Viiv-enabled systems, but more importantly, that a software update was coming to the plain ole HR20s to accomplish the same thing. The time has come, and users are reporting over at DBSTalk that the "0x108 software" has opened up the Ethernet port for use, and allows browsing / connections via a Viiv-certified machine, but definitely made things difficult for those not exactly keen on shelling out for a few new components. Nevertheless, there's already been somewhat of a workaround worked out, which allows PCs with just Windows MCE installed to "see" the HR20, but not "serve up files in a way that HR20 can work with," which we're all but certain will change as the wheels spin in owners' heads. Reportedly, DirecTV is establishing a dedicated website to getting folks up and running with the new connectivity options, and be sure to keep an eye on the linked thread for any "future developments" regarding non-Viiv-savvy PCs.[Via PVRWire]
